Engine fuel control system and apparatus



Filed May 2a. 1956 1 L LAYNE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS m a l m w //A United States Patent (3 ENGINE FUEL CONTROLSYSTEM' APPARATUS This invention relates. toan engine fuel. control systernv and apparatus and relates more particularly to a means for delivering measured quantities of fuel to combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine.

Heretoforezithas been common practice and itis well known to employ various types of mechanisms to mix quantities, of fuel such as, for example, gasoline with air in proportionate. quantities in, order. to provide a charge that maythereafter be delivered to and burn in combustion chambers. of. internal. combustion engines. Prior devices have taken the form of often extremely complex carburetors, fuel injectors and the like that are not only expensive tomanufacture, servicev and repair but are often; inefficient in operationv and? tend to lose efliciency' over; periods of use. The ultimate aim of any deviceof this character is the provision of measured quantifies of a fuel, together with oxygen laden air, for the explosive charge. Carburetor devices have become quite complex. in contemporary high compression internal combustion: engines, operating at high R. P. M; and producing relatively high horsepower. Fuel' injectors have required the use of complex. nozzle arrangements together with highpressure pumps and associated structures.

It is accordingly one important object of the. present invention to provide a novel fuel control system and mechanism therefor.

It i's another important object of the present. inven! tion to. provide a novel engine fuel delivery systemthat. is. operatively' associated with an intake valve of the: engine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel. means for delivering: a measured. quantity ofifuel mixed with. oxygenladen air to. provide an. explosive" charge. for use in. combustion chambers of; an? internal combustion: engine, such means being operatively asso. ciated with an intake valve and operable through conven tional mechanism'utilizedto effect. operation of said in take valve.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide a novel engine fuel control system and apparatus that is extremely simple in construction, effective in use, etficient in operation and which may be manufactured at. extremely low cost.

Other and further important objects of the. invention will becomeapparent from disclosures in the following detailed specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure I is a sectional view showing the present fuel controlsystem and apparatusasassociated with an in ternal combustion engine and portionsof the operating structures of the engine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged larto portions-of Fig. 1 positions;

Fig: 3 is anenlarged fragmentary elevational viewshowinga portionof the operating mechanism for an-ain inlet butterfly valve and fuel flow control thereofyand fragmentary sectional view similshowing components indifferent Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed plan view showing details of construction of the fuel control valve of this in vention.

With reference to the drawing, the-fuel control system and apparatus hereof is shown on the drawings in association with aninternal combustion engine indicated generally at 10. While the engine 10 has been shownas having but a single cylinder and the present. invention will be described in connection with suchan arrangement, it is to be understood thatthe device hereof may be employed for internal combustion engines having any number of cylinders. Accordingly, the showing hereof is by way of example only to teach the construction, op-' erating characteristics and function of the present invennon.

The engine 10 includes generally a block 11, having a cylinder 12, formed therein. A suitable piston 13 is disposed in the usual manner for slidable movement in the cylinder- 12. A head 14 is connected with the block 11-, there being a suitable gasket 15 therebetween. A-n intake manifold 16 for admitting air to the appropriate passages within the head 14 is connected to the head 14'; The rocker arm- 17 is positioned in operative association with a push rod 21. In accordance with usual practice, the push rod 21 may extend to a cam or cam followers in accordance with usual well known practice in order that the rockerarm 17 may be pivoted about the supporting shaft 18 in'tirned sequence according to the particular position of the piston 13 and desired firing characteritiscs of the engine. Another end of the rocker arm 17 is posi tioned in cooperation with a stem 22 of an inlet valve 23. A compression spring 24 is disposed about a portion' of the-valvestem 22, adjacent an upper end thereof and provided with the usual spring cups 25 and the retainer 26.

In accordance with usual practice, the block 11' may be provided with a suitable water" jacket 27, while the head 14- may also be provided with a water jacket 28. The waterjackets 27 and 28 provide for sufiicient coding of the metallic parts surrounding elements of the head and thecombustion chamber 300i the engine it); Additionally, in accordance with general practice, the inlet valve 23 is adapted for cooperation With' a valve seat formed on a valve insert 31 that is'press-fi't into material of the head 14. The pa'ssa'gefizwithin the inlet manifold 16 is adapted to conduct ambient atmospheric air to the valve 23 and from this' thereafter, when in an open position, to the combustion chamber 30. The mechanism described hereinbefore in connection with this invention provides a suitable background therefor and is relatively conventional. While the particular components of the internal combustion engine are shown in specific relationships with one another, it is to be. understood. that different valve arrangements located either in the engine head, the block or elsewhere, may be employed without departing from. the spirit and scope hereof.

With reference primarily to Figs 1, the head 14 is provided with a bore 33 in which a valve guide 34- is posi-- tioned. The guide 34- is retained in the bore 33' as by press-fitting or the like. The guide 34 has-an axial bore 35 in Which the stem 22-of the intake valve 23 is slidably positioned. The lower end of the valve guide 34-isprovided with an elongated bore 36 which is formedconcemtrically and coextensively with respect to the bore 35; The. lowerend of the bore'36'issuitablebeveled as at 37 to provide avalve seat for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described A- piston 38 is secured-to the valve stem 22 as by anysuitable means and disposed for slidable movement'within thebore 3.6;. Theupperrside of thecpis ton 38 as seen in Fig. l is vented to the passage 32 of the in-. takecmanifoldlfias by: a lateral: opening 40am the wall-of the valve guide34. The piston 38 further forms a movable wall for one side of a chamber 41 formed within the bore 36 and beneath the piston 38.

A fuel inlet port 42 is provided through the wall of the guide 34 and communicated with the chamber 41when the piston 38 is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a valve member 43 isflpositioned in association with the valve seat 37 formed on the lower end of the bore 36. The valve member 43shas a generally conical outer surface and an axial bore 44 therethrough. The valve stem 22 is adapted for disposition through the bore 44. The valve member 43 is countersunk as at 45 for reception of a seal 46. The seal 46 is preferably composed of. several windings of a sealing material, such as for example Teflon, in order that'this seal maybe replaced as desired without the necessity for removable of the piston 38 from the valve stem 22.

A washer 47, having an internal opening 48 therein, also surrounds the stem 22 of the inlet valve 23 and engages a lower surface of the valve member 43. The valve member 43 is biased into contact with the valve seat 37 by meansof a clip type spring 51 which surrounds the stem 22 of the'inlet valve 23 and has clip arms 52 which engage in an annular groove 53 about the lower end of the bored portion of the guide 34. The force of the spring 51 may be in the nature of 15 to 30 pounds, for example, in biasing the valve member 43 into contact with the valve seat 37. I

As shown primarily in Figs. 2 and 4, for a purpose that will be hereinafter more fully described, the valve member 43 is provided with a plurality of radially outwardly extending grooves 54 that are generally V-shaped in cross section and which diminish in the radial outward ends thereof. The outer ends of the groove 54 terminate in spaced relationship to the outer surface 55 of the valve member 43, therebvproviding an uninterrupted surface of the valve member and its cooperation with the valve seat 37. Accordingly when the valve member 43 is in the closed position as shown in Fig. l, the chamber 43 will be sealed at the lower end thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, suitable fuel from a supply source 56 is conducted by way of a conduit 57 through a rotary valve 58 to a conduit 60. The conduit 60 has a reduced diameter conduit 61 connected thereto and which extends through thepassage 32 of the intake manifold 16. The conduit 61 has a bent portion 62 that is adjacent the outer surface of the guide 34. The end of the conduit 61 is secured to the outer surface of the guide 34 as by soldering 63 or the like, with the interior passage of the conduit 61 communicating with the fuel inlet port 42.

The rotary valve 58 referred to hereinbefore may be constructed in any desired manner as, for example, by providing a transverse opening through a suitable shaft 65. The shaft 65 is journalled in opposite walls of the intake manifold, there being a butterfly valve 66 connected to the shaft 6 and disposed to control flow of air through the passage 32 in the inlet manifold. An

end of the shaft 65 remote frorn the valve 58 is provided with a crank arm 67 that is in turn connected to a suitable control member for operation of the present fuel system. An adjustable stop for rotation of the shaft 65 is provided by means of a screw 70 carried by a bracket 71 that is in turn mounted on the inlet manifold 16 by means of a screw 72. The crank arm 67 alsohas a tab 73 associated therewith and cooperable with the adjustable stop defined by the stop 70. The crank arm 67 is also biased in a direction toward the stop 76 by means of a tension spring 74 that is connected thereto and extends to any suitable stationary structure 75. The stop 70 is adjusted normally to contact the tab 73 at a position whereby to maintain the butterfly valve 66 and the rotary valve 58 in slightly open positions not completely occluding the passage 32 or the flow of fuel through the conduits 57 and 60.

In operation of the present device, the intake valve23 the valve member 43 and a gravity flow of fuel will insure a 61 within the passage 32 of the will be opened and closed in time sequences as described hereinbefore thus reciprocating the piston 15 within the bore 36 and changing the volume of the chamber 41 formed in the bore 36 below the lower surface of the piston 38. As the piston 38 rises from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. l, a slight vacuum will be created in the chamber 41 whereby to draw a quantity of fuel from the supply 56, past the valve 58 and through the conduit 61 into the port 42 and the chamber 41. A quantity of fuel delivered to the chamber 41 is regulated in accordance with the position of the valve 58. The raised portion 62 of the conduit 61 per.- mits gravity flow of a quantity of fuel to the chamber 41, even though vacuum created in the chamber 41 is normally suflicient to serve to charge this chamber with the fuel. Thereafter, as the piston 38 moves downwardly, the port 42 will be closed'by the piston and the charge of fuel deposited in the chamber 41 will be forced downwardly by the piston 38 into the grooves 54 of the valve adequate mixing thereof with arr being admitted through the passage 32. Thefuel delivered past the valve member 43 is thereafter conducted past the open intake valve 33 into the combustion chamber 30 of the engine. Inasmuch as the valve member 43, together with the washer 47 and spring 51 are freely slidably carried by the stem 22 of the intake valve 23, the valve 43 will be closed, that is positioned on the valve seat 37 until such time as the charge of fuel in the chamber 41 is compressed downwardly against an inner face of the valve member 43, thereby forcing the valve member to leave the. seat 37 a distance of a few thousandths of an inch and thereafter permitting atomization of the fuel in passage between the seat 47. Following the forcing of the charge of fuel past the valve member 43, the piston 38 will rise, together with the closing of the intake valve 23, whereby again to uncover the port 42 and permit the entrance of another charge of fuel and a'further cycle or" the apparatus. a

It may be seen that inasmuch as the butterfly valve 66 and the fuel control valve 58 are carried by a common shaft, proper adjustment of the fuel-air mixture may be accomplished throughout various speed ranges and load conditions of the engine 10; In other words, the butterfly valve 66 and the fuelcontrol valve 58 are in veryextreme open positions at maximum delivery of fuel to' the engine combustion chambers. The chamber 41 is also of a volume suflicient to receive fuel that may be required by the engine. Furthermore, the disposition of this fuel in the lower portion of the'chamber 41 for delivery thereafter under pressure past the valve member 43.

Slight preheating of the fuel being delivered to the cham-' disposition of the conduit intake manifold 16. This slight preheating isadvantageous in the performance of internal combustion engines and proper atomization of the fuel delivered past the valve member 43.

ber 41 is accomplished by the It may thus be seen that the device of the present in-,

vention is extremely simple as compared with other known devices for providing an atomized fuel or mixture for use as an explosive charge in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. noted that service and maintenance of the present apparatus will be at a minimum, in view of the extreme sim-v plicity hereof while still permitting eflicient operation and adequate mixing of the atomized fuel with incoming oxygen laden ambient air.

Having thus described the invention and the present specific embodiment thereof, it is desired to emphasize; the fact that many detailed modifications may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the followingclaims. 1

a maximum quantity of Additionally, it is to be- I claim;

1. In a fuel control apparatus for usewith an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, 9, piston operable in the cylinder, a combustion. chamber, an air intake manifold, an engine intake valve for the, combustion chamber, and an intake valve, operating mechanism, the combination of: an enclosure carriedby said engine, positioned about a portion of said intake valve and defining a fuel reception chamber; a valve seat formed on said enclosure; a valve member positioned on said seat and normally adapted to provide a, closure for one end of said chamber; means to bias said. valve member toward sealing contact with said seat; a movable wall; forming another side of said chamber, said movable wallbeing carried and movable by said portion of said intake. valve; and means to deliver a metered quantity of fuel to said chamber, said fuel being adapted for compressive forcing against said valve member whereby to unseatsaid valve member against force of said biasing means and enter said manlfold in a spray action for mixture with jr in said manifold and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intfie valve.

2. In a fuel control. apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having at. least one cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, a combustion chamber, an arr intake manifold, an. engine intake valve for the combustion chamber andan intake valve operating mechanism, the combination of: a valve guide, a portion thereof comprising an enclosure carried, by said, engine, positioned about a portion of said intake valve and defining; a fuel reception chambers; a conical valve seat enclosure; a valve member positioned on said seat and normally adapted to'provide a closure for, chamber; means to bias said valve member-toward, sealing Contact with said seat; a movable wall forming another side of said chamber, one side of said movable wall being vented to an interior ofsaid manifold, said movable wall being carried andmovable by said portion of said. intake valve; and means to deliver a metered quantity for compressive by to unseat said valve member forcing against said valve member whereagainstforce of said biasing means and enter said manifold in a; spray actionfor mixture with air. in said manifold: and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve.

3. In a fuel control apparatus for use with aninternal combustion engine having at least. onecylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, a combustionchamber, an air intake manifold, an engine intake valve for the combustion chamber and an intake valve operating mechanism, the combination of: a valve guide, a portion thereof comprising. an enclosure carried. by said engine, positioned about a portion of said intake valve and defining a fuel reception chamber; a conical valve seat formed on said enclosure; a valve member positioned on said seat and normally adapted to provide a closure for one end of said chamber; spring clip means engageable with said valve member and said enclosure to bias said valve member toward sealing contact with said seat; a movable wall forming another side of said chamber, one of said movable walls being vented to an interior of said manifold, said movable wall being carried and movable by said portion of said intake valve; and fuel fiow control means to deliver a metered quantity of fuel to said chamber, said fuel being adapted for compressive forcing against said valve member whereby to unseat said valve member against force of said biasing means and enter said manifold in a spray action for mixture with air in said manifold and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve. 7

4. A fuel control apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, a combustion chamber, an air intake manifold, an intake va ve for the combustion chamformed on.- said.

one endof saidof fuel to said chamber-,said fuel; being adapted,

ber, and an engine, intake valve opera-tingv mechanism comprising, in combination: anenclosure positioned about a portion of, sad intake valve, and defining. a fuel reception chamberga valve member-positioned normally. to..oc.- cludeone end. ofsaid chamber, at least, said valve member being positioned in, said manifold;:means to bias. said valve member toward a closed position; a fuel delivery. piston positioned. in said chamber and defining a movable wall. therefor, said. piston being carried by said. portion of said intake valve and movable. thereby; a fuel delivery port throughsaid enclosure; and means for delivering fuel from; a source to. said port, said fuel being directed from said. port into said chamber, adapted. to be forced against said valve member byaction of said; fuel delivery piston thereby opening said: valve member, and past said valve member in a spray action into said intake manifoldfor mixture-with air-in said} manifold and delivery tosaidcombustion; chamber; through! said engine intake valve..

5-. A fuel control apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having; atleast one cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder-5. 4 combustion. chamber, an air intake manifold-,an; intake valve for the; combustion chamber, and anengine; intake; valve operating mechanism.

comprising, in combination; a-.valve guide carriedby said engiuea. portionthereof defining an: enclosure. positioned.

about apor-tion of saidintake valve and further defining an open. ended fuelreception chamber; a valve. member positioned: normally. to: occlude said: open end of said means. being positioned in. sa1dmamfold;:means to biassaid' valve member toward a.

chamber, at least, said: valve closed position; a fuel delivery piston positioned in said chamber; and defining a movable wall therefor, said pistonbeing carried: by said portion of said: intake valve and movable thereby; a. fuel delivery port through said enclosure; and meansfor. delivering fuel from asource tosaid'port, said fuel being directed-from said port into saidchamber, adapted to be forcedagai'nst saidval'vemem her byaction of-saidi fueldelivery pi'ston thereby opening saidivalve member, and=past said-valve member in a spray actionantosaid intake manifold for mixturewith air in said manifold anddeliveryto said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve;-

6; A fuel control apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having atleast one cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, a combustion chamber, an airintake manifold, an-intake valve for the'combustion' cham ber, and.- an engine intake valve operating mechanism in combination: an enclosure about a portioncomprising,- of said intake valve and defining-afuel reception chamber; a:.valvemember slidably disposed on said-portion of said-intake valve and positioned normally to occlude one end. of sa d chamber, at: least, said valve means being positioned in said manifold; means to bias said valve member toward a closed position; a fuel delivery piston positioned in said chamber and defining a movable wall therefor, said piston being carried by said portion of said intake valve and movable thereby; a fuel delivery port through said enclosure; and means for delivering fuel from a source to said port, said fuel being directed from said port into said chamber, adapted to be forced against said valve member by action of said fuel delivery piston thereby opening said valve member, and past said valve member in a spray action into said intake manifold for mixture with air in said manifold and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve.

7. A fuel control apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, a combustion chamber, an air intake manifold, an intake valve for the combustion chamber, and an engine intake valve operating mechanism comprising, in combination: a valve guide carried by said engine, a portion thereof defining an enclosure positioned about a portion of said intake valve and further defining an open ended fuel reception chamber; a

member by action of said fuel valve member slidably disposed on said portion of said intake valve and positioned normally to occlude said open end of said chamber, at least, said valve means being positioned in said manifold; means to bias said valve member toward a closed position; a fuel delivery piston positioned in said chamber and defining a movable wall therefor, said piston being carried by said portion of said intake valve and movable thereby; port means for venting a side of said piston remote from said chamber to an interior of said manifold; a fuel source to said port, said fuel being directed from said port into said chamber, adapted to be forced against said valve member by action of said fuel delivery piston thereby opening said valve member, and pastsaid valve member in a spray action into said intake manifold for mixture with air in said manifold and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve.

8. A fuel control apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having'at least one cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, a combustion chamber, an air intake manifold, an intake valve for the combustion chamber, and an engine intake valve operating mechanism comprising, in combination: a valve guide carried by said engine, a portion thereof defining an enclosure positioned about a portion of said intake valve and further defining an open ended fuel reception chamber; a valve member slidably disposed on said portion of said intake valve and positioned normally to occlude said open end of said chamber, at least, said valve means being positioned in said manifold; mean's ito bias said valve member toward a closed position; a fuel delivery piston positioned in said chamber and defining a movable wall therefor, said piston being carried by said portion of said intake valve and movable thereby; port means for vent ing a side of said piston remote from said chamber to an interior of said manifold; a fuel delivery port through said enclosure; means for delivering fuel from a source to said port, said fuel being directedfrom said port into said chamber, adapted to be forced against said valve delivery piston thereby opening said valve member, and past said valve member in a spray action into said intake manifold for mixture with air in said manifold and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve; and an air flow control valve positioned in said manifold and coupled with said fuel delivering 'means to provide simultaneous control of fuel and air and produce a proper proportional mixture thereof.

9. A fuel atomizing and control apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a piston slidably operable in the cylinder, a

delivery port through. said enclosure; and means for delivering fuel from acombustion chamber, an air intake manifold, an intake valve for the combustion chamber, and an engine intake valve operating mechanism comprising, in combination:

and slidably disposed on a stem of said intake valve; a seal between said valve member and said stem; a washer slidably disposed on said stem and engageable with said valve member; a spring clip disposed in contact with said washer and connected with said valve guide to bias said valve member toward 'a closed position, said valve member serving to define 'an end of a chamber formed by said bore; a fuel delivery piston carried by said valve stem and positioned in said bore to define a movable wall for said chamber; a vent port through a wall of said guide for venting a side of said fuel delivery piston remote from said chamber to an interior of said manifold; a fuel delivery port through said wall of said guide and positioned therein to be uncovered by said fuel delivery piston; conduit means positioned in said manifold for conducting fuel to said fuel delivery port; a fuel metering valve positioned between said conduit means and a supply of fuel; an air metering valve connected with said fuel metering valve and positioned in said manifold; and means to operate said fuel and air metering valves, said fuel being directed from said fuel delivery port into said chamber, adapted to be compressively forccd against said valve on said seat member by action of said fuel delivery piston thereby' opening said valve member, and past said valve member in a spray action into said intake manifold for mixture with air in said manifold and delivery to said combustion chamber through said engine intake valve.

10. A fuel control apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said valve member is provided with a plurality of generally radially extending grooves adjacent a seating surface thereof to direct fuel passing past the valve member into a plurality of individual spray streams.

' 11. A fuel control apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said seal between said valve member and said stem comprises a spiral wound length of material disposed in a conical recess in said valve member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,066 Egersdorfer Aug. 20, 1929 2,136,959 7 Winfield Nov. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 706,145 Germany May 19, 1941 

